Page 19 of Wicked Ends
A rush of memory hit me as I got out of the car and walked across the gravel lot. I could feel it for a second: burning-hot stage lights, the heavy feeling of makeup on my cheeks, and the expectant silence of hundreds of people watching and waiting for me.
I entered the music school and smiled at the security guard.
“I don’t have a security pass yet,” I explained.
He clicked on his computer. “Name?”
“Anna Moore,” I said, only a little stilted. I’d had months to get used to this name, and it still felt like an obvious lie.
“I’ve got you,” the guard said. “Go and see Mrs. Lewis, the receptionist, when you have time, and she’ll have your ID badge made up.”
“Okay, great, thanks.” I smiled at him and headed along the busy corridor. It felt strange as hell to be in an academic setting again. There was a tinge of nostalgia for the days when I’d been a carefree student. That feeling hadn’t lasted long, however.
More than anything, there were crippling nerves about making this work. Hade Harbor University was a dream job, and sure,I only had the smallest toe in the door, but if I could make this work, it would change everything for me.
Students were everywhere. The music school at Hade Harbor was one of their highly acclaimed programs, second only to sports. Students from all over the country came here to study music theory, stagecraft, and instruments of their choice. And now, I was part of it all. It was more than I’d ever thought I’d have.
I carefully pushed through the students clogging the hallway right outside my classroom. I felt small in the crowd. I’d never been tall, but at a school like HHU where there were so many athletes wandering around, I felt positively tiny.
“Excuse me,” I said to someone’s back. I only came up to the bottom of his shoulders, so that was humbling, and the guy made a better wall than anything else.
Trying not to touch anyone, I slid around his back. He turned away from the door, deep in conversation with a girl in a cheerleading uniform.
Finally, I broke free of the crush and entered the classroom. Most of the students for my morning class were settled in their seats. I gave a quick smile and hustled down the middle aisle, put my bag on the desk, then took my first deep breath since I’d woken up late.
I was here. Everything was fine. I had this. I wiped my sweating palms on my skirt, then dug in my bag for the bottle of water I’d brought. I went to stand at the lectern and stuffed my nerves down. I could do this. I was here. I knew the subject, it wasmysubject, my lifelong passion. I could do this, and no one could ruin it.
I checked my watch. It was time for the students to sit down and get ready for class to start. The stragglers at the door continued to chat. The big guy and his little cheerleader friend didn’t seem in a hurry to get to class.
When a minute passed and they still hadn’t moved, I decided this was my chance to start out strong. I strode up the aisle, heading for the open door.
“Class is starting. Are you coming or going?” I asked the couple, hand poised on the door, ready to close it in their faces.
“Take it easy, Professor,” a deep voice said.
I froze.
Everything seemed to slow as the big guy in a sleeveless black T-shirt and shorts pivoted, his dark wavy hair flopping wetly over his tanned forehead. His bag had a hockey stick shoved in the back. The guy screamed jock, and his voice was terrifyingly familiar.
Slowly, I brought my eyes up to his face. A fist clenched my heart.
I met Marcus’ eyes.
Marcus. The hot bartender.
A student?No, no, no.Genuine fear laced down my spine.
His gaze landed on me, a similar shock in his eyes, and then it was gone. His head tilted to the side.
“What did you ask me? Am I coming or going?”
His deep voice held a tone of mocking I could only hope no one else noticed.
He stepped past me and leaned down, bringing his mouth to my ear.
“I’m coming, I’m definitelycoming.”
I jerked away from him and turned shakily, practically running down the stairs to the sunken lectern.
